Low carbon multi-binder composite using lithomargic soil, biomass, and calcined seashell powder for sustainable bricks

Abstract Bricks are manufactured using clays, which are fired at temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1200 °C. Due to the lack of quality clay, it is necessary to find alternate soils and waste materials for manufacturing bricks. The use of agricultural, aqua-cultural, and industrial wastes in the manufacturing of construction bricks leads to low-carbon material. This addresses the problem of agro-aqua-industrial waste disposal. The present study focuses on the utilization of biomass (BM) and slaked seashell powder (SSP) in compressed soil bricks made with locally available lithomargic soil (LS). The proposed soil bricks are prepared with 85% processed lithomargic soil, 12.5% biomass and 2.5% seashell powder. The reaction of multi-binder materials has been activated by one-part activation. The cast soil blocks are temperature cured at 100 °C, 250 °C, 500 °C & 750 °C to understand the effect of temperature on the hydration process of binder material. The compressed soil bricks are tested for compressive strength, initial rate of absorption, water absorption test, chloride content, sulphate content, microstructure analysis and thermal conductivity. The strength of soil bricks in bonding and in masonry, 3 prism and 4 prism tests were also conducted. Overall results indicate that bio-based alkali-activated brick masonry is superior for real-time adaptation because it reaches 10 MPa to 11.2 MPa compressive strength and 0.98 MPa to 1.2 MPa shear strength with curing at 500 °C.